Nail-holding implement.



No. 696,852. Patentedl'Ap'h I, I9'D2.

F. BOELK.

NAIL HOLDING IMPLEMENT.

(Application filed Aprv 16. 1901) (No Model.)

arr-wen ['07,

13) it was/em NlTiED Snares arnnr FFlClE.

NAIL HOLDING EMPLEWIENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,852, dated April 1, 1902. Application filed April 16, 1901, Serial No. 561105. (No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK BonLK, a citizen of the United States, residing at WValtham, in the county of Mower and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Nailllolding Implements, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to nail-holding implements, the object in view being to provide a simple hand implement of such construction as to hold nails of different sizes, as well as tacks, brads, &c., the construction further permitting the nails or tacks to be readilyinsorted between the gripping devices, which yield automatically to receive and hold the nails or tacks and also to permit the implement to be withdrawn from engagement with the nails or tacks after the latter have been partially driven.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement hereinafter fully described, illustrated,and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a nail or tack holding implement constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail longitudinal section through the handgrip. Fig. 3 is a bottom end View of the im-- plement. Fig. 4 is a cross-section illustrating the. manner of attaching the spring-metal nail-gripping fingers to the stock.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts of the figures.

The nail-holding implement contemplated in this invention comprises, essentially, a stock 1, which is reduced to form a shank 2 and to provide a shoulder 3, against which is received one end of a handle or hand-grip 4, which surrounds the shank 2 and is held in place thereon and against the shoulder 3 by means of a nut 5, which screws upon the extremity of the shank 2 and is received in an end recess or mortise 6 in the handle 4, the said nut having its outer surface flush with the end of the handle.

The stock 1 throughout the major portion of its length is reduced, as shown at 7, to make room for a plurality of spring-metal gripping-fingers S, which are curved longitudinally or bowed outwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. The spring-fingers 8 are provided at one end with independent retaining portions 9, which are inserted through transverse openings in the upper end of the stock 1 and held in place permanently by heading or riveting the extremities of the inbent ends, as shown at 10 in Figs. 1 and 4.

The spring-fingers 8 adjacent to their free ends pass through the radial grooves 11 of a channeled head 12 on the lower end of the stock 1, said head being considerably larger than the reduced portion 7 of the stock, so as to provide for the formation of the grooves or channels 11, in which the spring-fingers 8 work. The terminal portions of the fingers 8 are given a compound bend to form nailgripping portions 13 and outwardly-deflected extremities 14, the said extremities forming a flaring entrance-throat for the nail, (indicated at 15,) so that the nail will act to force the extremities of the spring-fingers apart to admit of the nail being brought to bear against the outer side of the channeled head.

It will be observed that by reason of the particular shape of the extremities of the spring-m etal nail-gripping fingers the fingers will spread apart automatically to receive the nail or tack and to permit of the withdrawal of the implement from the nail or tack after the latter has been partially driven.

The construction described enables the implement to be readily used, as it is not necessary to operate or adjust the nail-gripping fingers. The device enables nails and tacks to be started and partially driven in difficult places where the nails or tacks could not be readily grasped between the fingers in the usual manner, and it also obviates the danger of mashing the fingers, as the hand-grip a may be held in one hand while a blow is struck on the nail by a hammer held in the other hand. After the nail is properly started the implement may be detached therefrom and the nail driven home in the usual way.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is p 1. A nail-holding implement, comprising a stock, a hand-grip on the upper end of the stock, a head formed with radial grooves or channels secured on the lower end thereof, and spring-metal nailgripping fingers attached to the stock and haviugtheir free ends passing through the channels or grooves in terminating in outwardly-deflecting extremithe said head. ties projecting beyond the head. 10

2. A nail-holding implement, comprising a In testimony whereof I affix my signature stock, a head on the lower end thereof proin presence of two Witnesses.

5 vid'ed on its sides with radial grooves or ehan- FRANK BOELK.

nels, and spring-metal nail-gripping fingers Witnesses: attached at one end to the stock and provided EMIL J. FREIERT,

at their free ends with nail-gripping portions HERMAN NEMTZ. 

